This will probably be a long one as I have a lot to tell you all about! We finally got a diagnosis. We have been talking about this one for a while, but as of now it is our diagnosis. FG Syndrome..What is FG Syndrome? Well, remember Rainman. I recommend looking it up, as it is not an easy one to explain. I have to say, it is kind of fascinating to read about. It explains a lot. I guess 1/3 of infants and toddlers die from respitory infections which explains his illness he had until we got into see pulmonary. So when I say I he almost died there before we left CB, I honestly felt that was true. So my advice to you moms out there, go with your instinct. I have a lot of respect for doctors, and feel they tried their best, but I knew there was more to it, and I did what my instincts told me, and today John is feeling great! As you remember in Rainman, he was extremely brilliant. I have said for a long time that my son is a genius, he just hasn't had a chance to show it. Anyone that has worked with him, or even has met him agrees. That part of rainman is "Savant" we have not been diagnosed with Savant, but I do believe that it is in the future. The original Rainman's name is Kim Peek. If you google him, you will learn that he was diagnosed with FG syndrome just last year. Absolutely fascinating, and if my son was to be diagnosed with anything, this one is not so bad. The best part, is that it is going to be a complete mystery to what this boys future will be like.
One not so good part to this is that more than likely he got the gene from me, which makes Sienna a carrier. So when it is time for her to want children, we will have to work with a specialist. So I guess I better start saving my money now, and hope by then they will be able to work with this.
On another note, it was exactly a year ago yesterday that we landed in Boston. Ironically I had a dream the night before that we had decided to move back to CB now that John is Healthy. It was so great to see our friends, but I have to say, I was bummed to leave what we have going for us out here. I still love my job, and am waiting to hear about grad school. Sienna is doing so well out here. She just finished soccer, and is now starting ice skating. After one lesson she already knows how to ice skate on her own. She is rehersing for the Nutcracker, and has made more friends than I can keep track of. Things are great here. John is doing so well in school, and I could not be happier with his education he is receiving. Sienna's school is equally good, so I am very content with our lives here in Boston. Even Johnny has been doing good considering the economic times, and starting his real estate business at the time he did.
So on that note, it will be very interesting to see where John ends up in life. I can't wait to watch him, as I know he is already so unique, and will continue to keep everyone guessing. I am so lucky to have such a sweet boy in my life. They do not come sweeter than him!

I can't believe how long it has been since my last post! No news is good news. So where to begin with the update...
John is now walking!!! He is selective and only walks when he wants. He is really fast scooting, so he would prefer to scoot, but we are working on him. He is doing so well in our new house. He can get anywhere in the house. He has a few words now. Hat, and hi. He is also mimicking noises, which is a great. John is starting preschool on October 19th! The town we live in has a wonderful special ed program. We have already met with his "TEAM" and I have a really great feeling about them. Things are really going well for us here. Our neighbors are wonderful, it is quiet, and very dog friendly. It sure has been nice to get our own place, our belongings back, and settle down. Sienna is doing wonderful. She started Kindergarten inwhich she loves. She is making more friends than I can keep up with. She has a new boyfriend, (but still claims that Blake is her Crested Butte boyfriend!) She is playing soccer, and doing ballet. The little girl upstairs is 2 months younger than her, and they have become best friends. It could not have worked out better for us here. I am fortunately still working at the shelter. Due to my previous employment here, I was able to use "Seniority" and avoid layoffs! I also qualify for ed pay, so I am applying to go to grad school to receive my MSW! I am sending off the application this week. The school I am applying to has a pt program which allows me to continue working. Since John is going to school 5x a week, I figured I should take advantage of this opportunity. I have a lot of down time at work that I will be able to do homework.
Johnny is getting busy at work which is good. He has been doing a great job as Mr. Mom.
So again everything is going well here. I cannot access my blog at work, which is why I am not updating much. I will try to do better. I will also try to post some pics. I hope you all are doing well, and thank you again for your continued support!

Well, we are getting ready to move! We are allowed in the apartment to paint and clean, so we have been over there the last couple of days. The neighbors above us have a little girl one month younger than Sienna, and they get along already. Little John is so excited there. He can scoot, and walk (with his walker) around the whole place. He scooted so much the last couple of days he has a sore on his ankle. He is still doing good. We haven't been to any doctor appointments lately, but we will begin another round of them started at the end of August. Last week his therapist made him a picture book of his favorite toys, the car, stroller, bike cart, me, Johnny, Sienna, etc. He absolutely loves it. He gets so excited to pick out which toy he wants to play with. I guess the other day while I was at work he was looking at my picture saying ma ma. So I am not writing much on the blog these days, but I will continue to keep you all updated. I am happy that there isn't much going on. Like I said we will start going to the doctor a bunch after August, so I am sure I will be on more. Hope you all are well. We will be moving the next couple of weeks, so I will be busy.

Well, we are moving into our own place. We signed a lease last week on an apartment in Belmont. We get to move in Aug 1! Belmont is the town I was waiting tables at, and I have loved it ever since. I found some movers that will move our stuff from CB and bring it to us so that we do not have to deal with going back and getting it. We are ready to get our belongings out of storage, and settle down in a place. One reason I picked Belmont is because the schools are some of the best in the state. It will be good for Sienna, as well as for little John. They have excellent special ed programs. He is still going to get to go to preschool this October, and will transition from Cambridge to Belmont in time for his birthday. So exciting I can hardly wait. The apartment is big and open, and everything is on the first floor, so John will have the freedom to move around as he would like to. So that is our exciting news. Work is still going great for me. I am a little nervous about budget cuts and layoffs. I am sure I am not the only one. Hope you all are doing well.

We had a great time at the walk for Children's Hospital. Thank you all so for your support, as it made me feel as I am giving back for all they have done for us. We raised over $1200! It was our first fundraiser like this, and we can't wait to do it again next year!

John is doing well. He is trying to sing, and talk, as well as dance, and sign. I can't even believe everything he is doing. He even started taking some bites of pudding the other day off of my finger. So again I just can't even express all that he is doing. We did meet with our genetic doctor. We all decided that he would not benefit from a FG diagnosis. He did mention that he is mildly mentally retarded, which is not the first time I have heard it, but it is very hard to take in. So I have been processing that one for the last 2 weeks. We decided not to get him diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder as the doctors are not convinced that this is a good diagnosis for him. We were able to get diagnosed with PDD which stands for pervasive developmental disorder. John definitely falls in this criteria, and this diagnosis will get him the extra services that we have been trying to get him. He is just as happy as can be, and we absolutely love him the way he is. I still think he is perfect, although he is getting so heavy to carry around!

Sienna is graduating on Thursday from preschool. She is very excited, and will then start her summer camps to keep her busy, as well as free up some time for John's therapy and doctors.

I absolutely love my job. It is perfect for me. There is alot of down time, so I decided to apply to get my MSW. I am planning on starting in January. The state will pay for this program, and I have been wanting to do this for the last 5 years. I am almost done with my application which isn't due until October! It is only part time, so it will take me 4 years unstead of 2. I just don't think full time school is a possibility at this time. I am sure I am forgetting some more. Here are a bunch of pictures! Enjoy!!

We had a wonderful vacation in Texas. My family has almost recovered from the Hurricane damage. It was very interesting to see the damage of the storm 6 months later. I would have hated to see what it looked like when the storm hit. Little John had an excellent time. Other than pulling his gtube out of his stomach for the first time, we did good. He was in the water almost the whole time, and had a great time. We went boating, to the beach, to the pool, and to a water park in which he sat in a kid tube (with an adult and a lifejacket) and floated around the lazy river all day long. Sienna wants to move there so that we can swim everyday. I am trying to explain that it was a vacation, and we just can't play like that everyday.
I started my new job yesterday, and I think it will be the perfect job for me for a long time. Everyone that I work with has been there for many years, and they still love it there.
So we are doing well. The vacation was just what we needed, and we were lucky enough to see so many different family members. I can't wait until our next vacation! I will get some pics posted soon.